Positive feeding method and apparatus of an encoder

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a positive yarn feeding method and apparatus, which controls and adjusts the speed of feeding to go with the encoder, thus synchronizes feeding and encoding. The device includes a motor connected to an axle, on which a coupling spins the wheel and activates the belt. The motor receives signals from the positive feeding controller to manipulate its speed. Jointed with the main motor, the encoder outputs reference signals combining the production data with computers, therefore, enhances the production efficiency, shortens the intervals of stop for adjustment, and achieves the practical value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention refers to a digital feeding speed controlling encoder. Generally, the feeding part of an encoder is divided into passive and positive forms, of which this invention is mainly concerned with the positive form. The positive mechanism feeds automatically certain length of yarn into the weaving section. It is commonly adopted by a conventional device on the main structure called quality pulley, due to being able to lessen the difference of the yarn tension.

[0002] A conventional encoder adjusts the notches of the quality pulley disc to control the density of the textile from different materials. In addition to mobilizing the weaving pins, the main motor of an encoder, by way of gear-transmission to activate the belt around the pulley disc, surveys several feeding devices and hence progressively feeds the yarn into the weaving pins to increase productivity. Since accelerating the belt speeds up the feeding, the pulley disc operation control turns out primary. Nevertheless, lacking the numerical control, conventional encoders exert manual operation on controlling texture density by hiring skillful hands to stop or adjust the machines whenever necessary. In this case, in the producing process, the machines have to come to stop for processing the pulley disc, i.e., using a tool to loosen the bolt of the pulley disc, rotating the disc clockwise or counterclockwise to change the diameter of the segments in the disc, then working the connected belt to make the encoder feed the yarn.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 1, the quality pulley disc (1) described above has in it twelve trapezoid cubic segments (11) to from a circular. The segments are pressed tightly by two round discs (12), (13). Between the upper disc (12) and the segments, there are twelve slots running outwards from the center. On the other side, the disc is closely jointed with the spiral slots of the lower disc (13). When turning the upper disc (12) and leaving the lower disc (13) still, the segments, carried by (12), will expand or reduce accordingly to change the perimeter of the circular and also the speed of the belt. On account that the length of belt is constant and non-extensible, a belt-tension-controlling device is needed to avoid the sliding difference phenomenon, which causes the defect of the mal-distributed density. Therefore, the conventional encoders take a lot of time to stop and check repeatedly whenever the weaving density is not stable. For example, the conventional encoder patent-numbered European patent-numbered EP00894884 has to separately adjust the tension of the belt to sustain even feeding. In fact, they don't serve the practical purpose. Herewith, to improve the shortcoming of the conventional encoders, this invention provides a better feeding method and apparatus.

[0004] This invention, primarily, provides a precise digital controlled feeding device to replace the conventional speed control and belt-tension control thus, saves man-made altering the pulley disc plus belt tension and certainly decreases the standby time.

[0005] Now the features and advantages of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional quality pulley disc.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a conventional yarn storage feeding device.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a positive feeding device according to the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing a general outline of an encoder according to the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a system chart showing the controlling process according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, this invention deals with the improvement of the feeding speed control of the conventional encoders. The positive feeding device (3) includes a motor (31), connected with a coupling (33) and a wheel (32) that united with a coupling (33) to drive the belt. The positive controller (4) uses the internal circuit as the power to drive the motor that connects the positive feeding devices (3) and the other computer (5). The encoder (6) connected with the main motor (7) inputs reference signals into the positive feeding controller (4). The positive feeding controller (4) is composed of a synchronizing circuit unit, a programming IC, a corresponding unit, a multi-motor-transistor-driving unit, a monitoring unit, a key-in unit and an LCD unit. It can exchange production data with the external computers through the corresponding unit.

[0012] As described in the above structure, the positive feeding method uses to change the feeding speed the positive feeding device (3) composed of a motor (31) connected with a wheel (32), and the belt (9) around the wheel driving the yarn storage feeding device (8) to feed the yarn into the weaving section. While the encoder (6) on the axle of the main motor produces data that varies with the driving speed and inputs it into the positive feeding controller (4) that through the computation of the connected computers to turn the density into speed signals, receives the computed result and emits the feeding signals to drive the motors (31) in the positive feedings devices, free from the inconvenience and waste caused by changing the diameter of the pulley disc and the tension of the belt. The main motor can be either a stepped-motor or a servomotor.

[0013] The encoder (6) mentioned above can detect the speed of the weaving pins and complete the related density parameter. The programming IC processes the parameter into digital signals, which cope with the pulses of the encoder and output in the synchronizing circuit unit at least a set of main motor's ratio binding driving signals that eventually drive also at least one positive feeding device.

[0014] Furthermore, this invention uses the rated synchronizing operation of the positive feeding device and the encoder to make the feeding speed and the tension of the yam constant. It provides, as well, the instant digital amendment and storage of the texture density. All in all, the flexible control of density may work out excellent mixture of different textile patterns and meet with always novel designs in fashion.

[0015] One major characteristics of this invention is that its system can be added to any encoder. The positive feeding device is easy to install and put close to the yarn storage feeding device. Up to six positive feeding devices can be set up to satisfy multiple feeding speeds.

[0016] The objectives of this invention are to raise productivity, to shorten intervals of stop when the textile density is changed, to use digital automatic feeding method to maintain even tension of the yarns, and to create versatility of the textile density. This invention has practical value and evidently has progression as well as novelty. It is apparently eligible for the patent grant.

[0017] The above description of this invention does not confine its domain. Any refinement within the principles and spirit of this invention by experienced hands should be considered under the protection of the patent applied. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A positive feeding apparatus of an encoder comprising a positive feeding device, a motor with a coupling at one side and a wheel mobilizing the belt at the other side; a positive feeding controller to receive signals of the yarn feeding speed and the speed of the main motor, then output the positive feeding speed signals; and an encoder jointed with the axle of the main motor to output the speed reference signals.
 2. A positive feeding method of an encoder being characterized in using a positive feeding device composed of a motor activating wheel around which a belt transmits to the yarn storage feeding device which feeds the yarn into the weaving section; using an encoder on the axle of the main motor to produce signals that vary with the driving speed and refer to the motor controller whose function is to compute the texture density into yarn feeding speed signals and synchronize the motor with the machine; and free from the mechanism to manipulate the perimeter of the pulley disc and adjust the tension of the belt.
 3. The positive feeding apparatus of an encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive feeding apparatus whose positive feeding controller receives data from the encoder and processes the data through its internal synchronizing circuit unit, programming IC, corresponding unite, multi-motor-driving unit, monitoring unit, key-in unit and LCD unit, among which the corresponding unit functions to joint the other computers and exchange production data.
 4. The positive feeding apparatus of an encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive feeding apparatus whose positive feeding device has up to 6 motor-wheel sets to proceed 6 speed rates according to the demands.
 5. The positive feeding apparatus of an encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive feeding apparatus whose motors can be either stepped-motors or servo-motors using the encoder within to control their speed.
 6. The positive feeding apparatus of an encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive feeding apparatus whose positive feeding controller computes the textile density into feeding data and send from 1 to 6 different synchronized signals with the speed of the main axle to activate up to 6 positive feeding devices.
 7. The positive feeding method of an encoder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the positive feeding method being able to produce textile in combining density through the digital control of the density data. 